Emma-Lee
9th Annual Jazz Song Nominee
9th Annual Love Song Winner
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Genre: Jazz
Bumstead Productions Ltd
www.emma-lee.com
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HOMEBASE/COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Toronto, ON Canada
WHICH GENRES BEST DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC? Pop, Folk, Jazz, Singer-Songwriter
ALBUM NOMINATED LOVE SONG IS ON: Never Just a Dream
ARTISTS ON THIS TRACK:
Emma-Lee: voice, guitar, glockenspiel
Kevin Mendes: drums
Mike Olsen: cello and string arrangements
Lief Mosbaugh: viola
Aisslinn Nosky: violin
Cristina Zacharias: violin
WHERE WAS SONG RECORDED? Everything was tracked in Toronto at a few different studios.
WHAT INSPIRED IT? IS IT BIOGRAPHICAL? It’s actually a love song to my parents, mostly my Mom who was an absolute trooper through a couple years of poor health in my family. Her Dad (my Grandpa) had passed, my Dad was diagnosed with cancer (for the second time in his life) and I myself had a lump of my thyroid gland (luckily benign) that I had to have surgery for. All throughout my Mom kept it together in a way that still baffles the mind. She’s a strong lady.
IS IT EASIER TO WRITE ABOUT LOVE LOST OR LOVE GAINED? In my experience so far…lost.
NAME YOUR FAVE LOVE SONGS & WHY THEY RESONATE: Something (The Beatles), Tenderly (Ella Fitzgerald version), Everything Reminds me of Her (Elliott Smith), Tell Him (Lauryn Hill) – all for various reasons, but the common thread is that they tug at my heartstrings and get me every time.
WHERE IS YOUR MUSIC AVAILABLE? Internationally it’s available directly off my website and on iTunes and it’s in stores all across Canada.
DID FANS HELP FUND THIS PROJECT? Actually, yes. Initially I self-released Never Just a Dream before getting signed. I reached out to my fans for a pre-sale campaign and they totally answered the call. It was really amazing to have people believe in something they hadn’t even heard.
WHO IS SITTING IN YOUR AUDIENCE? From young girls to blue hairs and everyone in between. It’s quite broad. They’re all extremely attractive people of course.
WHAT MAKES YOUR FANS UNIQUE? How helpful they are in spreading the word! Word of mouth is the best friend of independent artists so when I hear about what someone has done to share my music I’m always really thankful. I’ve been told of fans going into record stores here in Canada and putting my album in the front row of whatever section it’s in. That’s pretty awesome.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO PLAY? I’ve played tiny clubs to theaters and outdoor festivals but for some reason I enjoy playing in loud bars. Not because I want people to talk over me, but I like the liveliness and the challenge to make people be quiet. On the flip side, it also feels great to stand in a theater and play to a silent crowd because the clarity of the music is so beautiful. I just find the barrier between performer and audience a bit too clinical. I like the interaction. I enjoy a bit of kind-spirited heckling.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? I think just all the positive feedback I received when the album came out. It was of course personally satisfying to finish a record I was really proud of, but having lots of music writers re-affirm the path I’m on was definitely rewarding.
WHAT’S IN THE WORKS FOR 2010? I’ve been writing a bunch lately with the intention of recording a second album in the new year and hopefully doing a lot more touring!
FINISH THIS SENTENCE: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS…..an ever-evolving black cloud of mystery with a silver lining that only the strong will find.
WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS? Self-worth, walking more than talking, earning a living doing what you love.
WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOUR FANS? Steely Dan, Aerosmith, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
NAME SOME ARTISTS YOU ARE CHAMPIONING: All from Toronto – The Donefors, blueVenus, Peter Katz, Lindi Ortega